New LPG rules from May 1: Booking, delivery, and prices to change

From May 1, LPG consumers in India will follow new rules for booking, delivery, and prices of gas cylinders. As per reports, these changes are being introduced after global energy supply issues and are expected to affect how households manage their LPG usage.

One major change is the booking interval. In cities, people can now book a new cylinder only after 25 days instead of 21 days. In rural areas, the waiting period can be up to 45 days. 

The delivery system has also become stricter. Now, customers must share an OTP (one-time-password) with the delivery person to receive the cylinder. This step is added to make sure that the cylinder reaches the correct person and to prevent misuse of subsidised gas. 

As per reports, for beneficiaries of the Pradhan Mantri Ujjwala Yojana (PMUY), Aadhaar based eKYC is now compulsory if not already completed.

This process must be done once every financial year to continue receiving subsidy benefits. However, people who have already completed eKYC do not need to do it again.

LPG prices have already increased recently. Domestic cylinders are now costlier by ₹60, and commercial cylinders have also seen multiple price hikes reportedly. More price changes may happen from May 1 as oil companies review costs.

Consumers can book LPG cylinders in different ways. They can use WhatsApp by sending a message like ‘Hi or REFILL’, give a missed call or use IVRS, send an SMS, or book through the company’s app or website.